How to Remove Car Window Tint With a Kit

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Laura

No matter what your reason is for wanting to remove your old tint there is going to come a time when you have to tackle the unpleasant task or pay somebody to do it for you. If you elect to pay somebody to do it for you, this can end up costing you quite a bit of money. If you do it yourself, you can save that money and put it towards having your new tint put on.

To remove the tint film that is adhered to your vehicle the first thing that you will need to have is a lot of patience because it can be a long drawn out process, and it can get very tedious. You will also need a razor, blade, glue remover, and a cloth. Your best chance of getting the window tint completely off is to use a window tint remover kit, this way you can rest easy knowing that no glue residue and pieces of tint will remain.

To buy a window tint remover kit you will simply need to visit your local auto store, AutoZone, Pep Boys, Napa, and Checker, are some of your best examples. Once inside the store, you can ask a sales associate where the remover kits are located or you can find them yourself by going to the window tint area. There will be different brands of remover kits, but they should all come with the same basic supplies. The supplies that you require are the adhesive remover, cloth, razor blade, and a blade holder. You can buy the cheapest kit you find, as long as it has those supplies, if you are removing a lot of tint you will want to purchase two kits.

To begin removing the window tint you will want to use a heat gun or hair dryer and start in the corner. Once the hair dryer has heated up the window you can start to peel the tint towards you, this works because the heat gun or hair dryer heat melts the glue that is holding the tint on. Once you have peeled the tint off you will want to spray the window with the adhesive remover. Then let it set up for 10 minutes or so. Using the razor blade inside of the razor blade holder, you want to remove any glue residue still attached to the glass. Once you are done wipe the window clean with the cloth.

After you have cleaned off all of the tint, you will want to wash your windows with a strong window cleaner to get off any remaining bit and pieces of glue or tinting material.…

What Can Your Auto Glass Shop Do For You?

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Laura

What Can Your Auto Glass Shop Do For You?

It has happened to most of us. You’re driving along, usually behind a truck, and a rock hits your windshield. When something happens to your car, even a minor “ding” to the windshield, it becomes abundantly clear how important glass is for visibility and a safe operational environment. All auto glass items are literally your windows to the world. So, don’t let auto glass repair or replacement problems go. What may seem minor, like that small crack in your auto windshield, or if you notice side windows that don’t go up and down smoothly anymore, can quickly escalate into much bigger problems that can cost a lot more.

What can your glass repair shop do for you? Let us count the ways!

Auto Glass Today

Today’s shop can rightly be called a “glass center” because of the full range of services, including:

Cracked windshield replacement

Chipped windshield repair

Power window repair

Side view mirrors

Car trim repairs

Glass replacements to meet industry standards

And even assistance with insurance claims

If you have been in an accident, call your local auto glass shop. Ask questions and find out how that shop can help with damage control and work with you to determine whether you should file an insurance claim. Your auto policy’s comprehensive section will usually cover damage and some shops will actually file the claim for you and handle all the paperwork too.

What else can your local glass replacement center do for you?

Residential Glass – The Big Bonus

Did you know the auto glass shop can actually help you with creating phenomenal customized looks for enhancing your interior and exterior home d?Ã¯Â¿Â½cor? This is a real glass shop bonus that many folks never even think of. There are more and more glass related products that can add comfort and beauty to your living space:

House window replacement

Insulated glass replacement

Single pane window repair

Storm windows and screens

Mirrors

Furniture/Table tops

For example, when you start looking and asking questions, you will discover many glass shop items that can be special ordered and customized to reflect your own home decorating ideas. For instance, protecting your furniture with glass tops makes sense to add to and retain the beauty of fine wood. Look for a glass shop that can create the shape, size and thickness you need and can meet your requirements for beveled edges, and seamed or polished edges. When your glass desktop or tabletop is cut to size and ready, it will present a shining surface, can be cleaned with ease, and best of all, it will be protected for the long haul.

Custom mirrors can make a dramatic impact too. Having mirrors created to your own specifications by the local glass shop you thought was only good for auto repairs is the new way to go. Now, you can create mirrored walls, size little mirrors to fit small spaces, bevel the edges, and have everything custom installed …

Residential Window Glass: Making Sense of Different Types of Glass

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Laura

Residential Window Glass: Making Sense of Different Types of Glass

Things used to be a whole lot simpler a few decades ago. There weren’t too many options available to someone looking for a residential window glass. Commonly, home owners could choose between ‘thin’ and ‘tough’ glass. At the most, they could get them tinted or painted.

Today, glass counterpanes, furniture, tiles and wall of varying durability and transparency are replacing conventional building materials. Architects select different types of glass for windows with different configurations. One used for the window in your house will differ substantially from commercial door. The type of glass you select for your window will affect the comfort, energy consumption, insulation, noise level and security of your home.

Let’s take a look at the common types of residential glass window. Each type has its unique qualities. Understanding each type will make it simpler for you choose the right types for your window.

Patterned Glass

Pattered one is covered with patterns or designs. Usually translucent, this can be color or plain. It is perfect for situations where both natural light and privacy are required. The patterns on it prohibit anyone from looking through the glass, but enough light escapes through the glass to light the room.

Tinted Glass

Tinted glass is coated with material that reduces the transmission of light, ensuring that your home doesn’t heat up too much during the summers. This will also offers you privacy: you can see through the glass, but people on the other side cannot see you. Tinted glass is commonly used in cars. You can also avail residential glass tinting services and get your existing one tinted.

Low Emissivity Glass

This type of glass is coated with a special material comprising metal oxide compounds. The coating reflects a large percentage of harmful UV rays, and it absorbs a lot of the heat energy. The effect totally depends on the thickness of the coating, and you can customize the coatings to increase to decrease heat gain. This type is quite durable and is perfect for hot climates.

Double Paned or Insulated Glass

Double paned is two sheets of glass separated by air or special gases. This kind of glass offers unparalleled insulation against cold, wind and noise. For extremely cold climates, triple-pane windows are also available. If your house is located in a noisy neighborhood, or if you live in an extremely cold climate, this is a good option for residential window.

Impact-Resistant Glass

As the name suggests, this type of glass doesn’t break easily. Impact-resistant is made by combining multiple sheets with layers of plastic. Even if it breaks, the internal layers hold the broken fragments together. If you want to minimize your residential glass repair bills, this is your best option. For areas with high risk of hurricanes, this is the ideal type of glass for windows.…

Your Home Improvement Confusion Cleared With This Advice

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Laura

So you’ve found this article. Are you ready to get started on all of those home improvement projects? Now you can! You, no doubt, have many questions, and this article will cover them. Find tons of great home improvement advice to help you along the way.

New couches and chair are not cheap. Instead of buying new you can get creative by finding unique pieces that are gently used. You might find great things when buying used stuff, including furniture. Some may require a bit of work, but with the right time invested, they can be a real asset to your household.

It’s time to pop those flooring bubbles! If this problem is visible in your home, you can cut it and get rid of the problem. The bubble will collapse in the short term. You Remodeling will have to inject a bit of glue, though, to keep the repaired section flush with the floor. Get the glue that comes inside a syringe to help you complete this job.

Protect your floors at all times when you engage in painting your home. This helps keep wet paint off of your flooring. A cheaper way to get this done is to layer old newspapers. Other alternatives include a drop cloth or large plastic tarp; both are available at most home improvement centers.

Think about putting in insulation whenever you plan on renovating your home. You can install weather-stripping on each of your windows and doors. Your energy bill will be more affordable as you weatherize your home. That is going to mean savings on your utility bills.

Now, you should be prepared for home improvement projects. You may have thought yourself to be ready, look at yourself now! Use the advice provided above, and get started on all of those home improvement jobs that you have been putting off.…

How to Repair a Rear Defroster

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Laura

How to Repair a Rear Defroster

The rear-window defroster on your back glass is only painted on. Sometimes it can get damaged or even get a disruption in the electrical flow. Patches of frost on your back glass would be an indicator of a problem.

(1) Check your fuse, which located in the fuse box going to the rear-window defroster unit. Use a voltmeter to see if both sides of the fuse get a sufficient reading. If you can’t get a reading, replacement of the fuse will be necessary.

(2) Check the terminals on the defroster grid, which are usually located at the top or sometimes the bottom of the grid. Sometimes the terminals get broken. Check both terminals and if they are broken, they can be put back together with glue. Be sure that the broken ends are placed together firmly so as to receive continuity. (Look at your wiring diagram located in your automotive manual.)

(3) Locate the wires plugged into the back of the defroster switch for the rear window. Be sure the fuse is plugged in. then, disconnect both wires leading to the switch and touch both ends of the wires. Hold them together for a few seconds and the defroster should not come on while the wires are held together. (This will mean that you will need a new defroster switch.)

(4) Inspect the wires under the dash leading away from the defroster switch and if they are intact, check the defroster grid on the rear window for any breaks. If any breaks are found but the ends are intact, you can apply some glue on both ends of the broken pieces of the grid and stick them back together.

(5) If you find a broken piece of the grid that is missing a piece then, you will need to buy a defroster repair kit (available at an auto parts retailer) You will find conductive paint included within the kit.

(6)Clean off the area of the break with alcohol and apply the paint to the area that is broken.

(7)Let the area dry for 12 to 24 hours, then your defroster will be ready to use.

By following these steps outlined above, replacement of the entire back glass is not entirely necessary when the rear-window defroster on the car’s back glass gets damaged.…

How to Choose New Home Windows

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Laura

How to Choose New Home Windows

When you set out to choose new home windows there are two distinct factors that you want to consider: style and efficiency. While the style is what will be most pleasing to the eye, the efficiency of the windows is what will be most pleasing to your wallet over the long haul.

When it comes to style, there are basically three types of windows that you can choose from. Here are the three styles of windows you can choose for your new home:

1. Casement: These are the most energy efficient windows. Casement windows open from a hinge by way of a crank operation. This enables the sash of the window to stay tight and let very little air though.

2. Double Hung: A double hung window has a lower panel of glass and an upper panel of glass and will open from the bottom by sliding the lower panel up. The drawback to these windows is that over time the weather seal usually gets damaged from opening and closing the window and this allows for more air to get through.

3. Sliding: Sliding windows are much like the double hung, only they open by sliding one panel to the side of the other. The same weather seal problem that plagues double hung windows usually persists with the sliding windows as well.

After you have chosen the style of windows for your new home, you then need to consider how efficient those windows will be. There are two efficiency guides that can help you choose the best window efficiency wise for you, these guides are:

1. R-Value: This measures how much heat loss your windows are capable of losing. This is important to the overall efficiency of the windows so you will want to go with windows that have at least an R-3 rating or better. Of course the higher the rating, the higher the efficiency, but also the higher the price.

2. U-Factor: This is a measure of how well the windows will prevent air from coming in the windows. U-Factors that are less than 0.35 are desirable and considered efficient. This factor is especial important during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

There are also different types of glass treatments that affect the overall efficiency of the windows you will select for your new home. A regular panel of glass will not offer any protection and will therefore be the least efficient for windows.

You can also get glass that is treated with a glaze either on one side or both. The glass with one side glazed will be a little less efficient versus the glass with both sides glazed and this will again affect price.

The cream of the crop in window glass is Low-e window glass. These windows feature two panes of glass per panel and in-between the glass there is an invisible gas, such as argon, that keeps heat in or out depending on what you want. …

Halloween Safety Tips For Your Family

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Laura

Halloween Safety Tips For Your Family

Halloween is lots of fun, but there are also plenty of dangers lurking, and this doesn’t just mean scary costumes. This break from the ordinary provides opportunities for criminals to catch you off guard. Here are a few tips to keep your family safe this Halloween:

Choose the right costume – Kids should be wearing flame-retardant costumes that do not restrict their movement. The costume should hit your child around their ankles, it should not be hanging or dragging on the ground for your child to trip over. Your child should be able to move just as fast in their costume as they can in their regular clothing. If the costume is not warm enough for a chilly fall evening, make sure it is large enough for a layer of thick clothing underneath. Particularly for younger kids, choose a costume that is brightly colored or light colored so that you can spot them easily in the dark. Use reflective tape to make dark costumes easier to see. Kids may choose a costume by any number of criteria; make sure that you, as an adult, handle the safety aspect of costume selection.

Choose proper accessories -Give kids glow sticks or necklaces. They will have a lot of fun, but this is also an important safety measure. Select shoes that are easy to walk in, and remember that your children will be outdoors, on the street, at night. A pair of high-heeled princess dress up shoes may go perfectly with the costume, but your little one will be complaining long before the night is over. Any masks or headpieces should not restrict their vision or hearing; consider face paint instead of a mask.

Stay with your kids – An adult must accompany the children, and they must stay together as a group. Even on Halloween, it simply isn’t safe to let young children wander around outdoors alone. If you allow older kids to go trick or treating in a group without adult supervision, remind them of safety tips like staying on sidewalks rather than walking in the middle of the road, obeying all traffic signals, staying together, and never entering anyone’s home or vehicle. Consider giving them a personal alarm so that they can easily alert nearby adults if someone bothers them, and don’t forget to make sure they have a cell phone and a flashlight with working batteries. If there are dogs in the neighborhood, a keychain canister of pepper spray can keep attacking dogs at bay. Agree on a route and a curfew before they leave. All trick-or-treaters should stick to an area they know well, and only approach homes with well-lit entrances.

Safeguard your home – Halloween is a unique opportunity for criminals. They assume that anyone who is home will open the door, which makes it easy for them to find unoccupied homes. With so many people out and about, someone outdoors at night will not arouse as much suspicion. If you …

Installing Glass Block – Tricks of the Tradesman

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Laura

Installing Glass Block – Tricks of the Tradesman

You can install glass block!

It’s not the easiest do it yourself project out there, but it will be perhaps the most rewarding, because it can be challenging and it will impress everyone–especially you! I have discovered the following tricks over the last eight years while building a successful glass block installation company in Palm Coast, Florida. You will not find them on any installation guide out there, because installers don’t write the guides!

Start with the fun stuff–design the window. There are only a few manufacturers of glass block–Pittsburgh Corning (distributed by Home Depot and Lowe’s, to name a few), Weck, and Mulia. Personally I prefer Mulia–the price point is usually lower, the block meets the same design standards (all 4 inch deep block meets the Florida hurricane codes–the toughest standards in the country), and Mulia paints the interior edge of the block, which makes a nicer detail when the window is finished. All three make similar sizes and patterns. Design with the opening in mind–Pittsburgh Corning has a great guide on their website for planning out the project. Whichever block you choose, you can use this site for a planning tool. Just be sure and plan for a masonry installation–it is the most cost effective, easiest to finish, and best looking. Follow that guide for a materials list: glass block, spacers, glass block mortar, panel anchors, reinforcing, and expansion joint. Don’t use channels; they complicate the project with no added benefit and less visual appeal.

Tip #1–The rough opening size

You want the rough opening to be one inch over the nominal dimension of the window. Simply put, if you want a window six blocks wide by six blocks high, using eight inch block (the standard size) your nominal dimension will be 6 block x 8 inches = 48 inches + 1 inch = 49 inches. Now that you know the standard, know the tolerance. The actual size of the glass block window will only be 47 3/4 inches x 47 3/4 inches. That 49 inch opening you are shooting for can vary up to an inch, and you can still make the window fit. So don’t split hairs.

Tip #2–The bed joint

The bed joint is the foundation–it is a layer of mortar set on the window sill. If you have a true one inch over the nominal size,split it and make a half inch bed joint. You can guesstimate this, just check the opening after the bed joint is down to insure that you have enough room for the glass block. The secret to a window that lays itself is the bed joint. Put down the mortar (made the consistency of home made mashed potatoes), then dust it liberally with dry mortar. This will allow you to level this bed without the level sticking to it. If you start with a firm, level bed, you will seldom have to make any adjustments as you go up. Using your …

Pest Control Tips For Your Home And Business

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Laura

It’s hard to eliminate pests if they’re in your home.You may spend lots of money and effort trying to get rid of them. Use the tips presented here to solve your pest problem before it causes real damage.

Vacuuming the pests inside a home. This will get rid of the problem. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag when done.

People that are experiencing trouble with flying pests that fly need to repair all of the screens in their home. Screens on doors and windows keep most crawling bugs out of your home. Fix all the screens so that bugs can’t enter.

Look around to identify pools of standing water and eliminate it. Pests love standing water like nothing else. Make sure that you have no leaky pipes and keep all standing water in your home.Pests require water to stay alive, so getting rid of it will make it that much harder for pests to live in your home.

Fleas can be hard to eliminate, but there are things you can work on to improve the situation. Always discard the vacuum bag once you are finished cleaning your living space.

You can get control of the insects and other pests in your home. Consult the professionals at your local Lowe’s or other home improvement outlet for advice to rid yourself of these pests. They are trained to know which remedies work on whatever pest you have in your home.

Electronic pest repellents are very effective.These tiny devices plug into room outlets where they emit a low buzzing noise that chases rodents away when plugged in. Humans and pets are able to hear the sound, but the noise will not hurt you. Rodents can stand the noise and will leave.

Not surprisingly, pests are easier to attract than to get rid of. Hopefully here you have gotten enough knowledge to keep pests away. If the problem is major, you may need a professional.